Friends, family mourn death of WCU student

Staff Photo By Vinny Tennis
Classmates comfort each other in front of a makeshift memorial for WCU student Joseph Pietroforte in the 600 block of South Bolmar Street in West Goshen on Tuesday Nov. 20, 2012. Pietroforte was struck and killed by an elderly driver Monday evening as Pietroforte was crossing the road on his way to work at A. Duie Pyle.

WEST GOSHEN — A West Chester University student died Monday evening after he was struck by a vehicle in the 600 block of South Bolmar Street, according to the West Goshen Police Department.

Police said an elderly driver struck 21-year-old student Joseph Pietroforte, of Nazareth, at 5:18 p.m. Monday as the student was walking to his job at a nearby trucking company.

Nearly 100 friends and family members gathered at the scene Tuesday to pay tribute to the West Chester University junior and criminal justice major. A makeshift memorial was set up just feet from where the accident occurred.

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Pietroforte’s friends stood mostly in silence, lending supportive shoulders to those overcome by emotion while viewing the memorial filled with pictures of the late student.

“Words can’t describe how good of a person he was,” said Nick Borak, one of Pietroforte’s roommates. “He had the biggest heart and would do anything for anyone.”

Pietroforte’s roommates expressed shock at the suddeness of his death and said they considered him more of a brother than a friend.

“He was a brother to all of us,” Borak said. “I still can’t wrap my mind around it, it doesn’t feel real. I just want him to come back.”

Other friends said they would remember Pietroforte for his beaming personality and love of laughter.

“He was the happiest person I’ve ever known,” said Paul Seitz, another of Pietroforte’s roommates. “You couldn’t talk to him for two minutes without laughing your ass off. It’s like losing a brother, everyone is still in shock. No one really believes this happened.”

Friends said Pietroforte had just celebrated his 21st birthday on Saturday.

“We gave him a great birthday, he had a great time,” Seitz said.

Pietroforte was struck while crossing South Bolmar Street in a crosswalk just north of Autopark Boulevard. Police said a street lamp just above the crosswalk was lit at the time of the accident, but added that the driver of the vehicle was not driving erratically.

The name of the driver has not been released and the cause of the crash is still under investigation, police said. Further updates will be provided as they become available.